A few more new pictures...

Happy boy!!! Notice the running... he's full speed, high gear, high octane, 100% boy!! But oh, so precious!!

He wanted the camera sooo bad.

Yummy ba-ba (aka sippy cup... we've been off the bottle a while!)

Speaking of bottles, P playing with a Kroger water bottle... his all-time favorite toy!

Sweet picture of our precious baby, looking out the window for Daddy (who was outside doing yard work)

It's Peanut Butter Jelly Time!!

I've said it before, but PB & J is my little man's FAVORITE thing in the world! Mac and cheese comes and goes, but PB & J is forever!! Here are some pictures from when I finally gave in and let him feed himself. Sooooo messy!!

So, I thought we were ready, but we're not...

On several things:

#1. Selling our house
#2. Getting pregnant

It's amazing how God answers prayers! We were really dead set on selling our house and the baby bug seemed to have bitten me bad (how'd ya like all those B's), but after a lot of prayer, all of it has disappeared... thank you God! I'm sure it will return when HIS timing is right!

#3. Potty training

So Preston has been grabbing his diaper after he wets it for a while now. Supposedly, this is the first sign that kids are ready to potty train. Not only that, but he's been waking up from naps with a dry diaper. So, we bought the training potty. And wouldn't you know it... as soon as we bought it, he reverted back to his sweet baby ways of being completely unaware of his wet diapers and waking up with a wet one as well as losing interest of what Mommy and Daddy are doing in the bathroom. So, I guess we'll wait... although I'm a little ready to be done buying $40 cases of diapers, at least he's still officially a baby.

#4. Taking Preston to the football games

After this weekend, I am 100% convinced he doesn't need to go to the State games yet...
a) Our tailgate is right next to the street and he's a toddler... think that explains that
b) It is LOUD...
c) Cowbells scare me and I'm 28
d) Disgruntled fans scare me and I'm 28
e) The way disgruntled fans behave... I mean really, people. Slamming your cowbells down on the aluminum seats because things aren't going your way... is that really how an adult should act?? Oh, and then saying that you "dropped" it? I don't think I want my baby around that until he can understand that his level of maturity is higher than theirs. (Understand, this was going on everywhere around us, not just people immediately close to us... it was like bombs going off everywhere. I'll take Hotty Toddy and a couple of cuss words before that any day... all though neither are appropriate)

#5 Justin being gone so much.

I promise, I promise, I'm not complaining. I've said it before and I'll say it again. We can handle it. God isn't going to give us anything our marriage can't handle. But this month he has been gone a lot. I think in the last 3 weeks, he's been home one of those. I'm grateful to God that he has this amazing wonderful job that he absolutely LOVES, but I guess I never realized how much I depended on him! From helping with Preston to taking out the trash to this invisible security system that just having him next to me at night provides, I just wasn't ready for that BIG of a difference!

#6 To blog more...

I know it's been a while since the last one, but it's a work in progress. This goes along with #5. And while I have more time to myself when he's gone, time just seems to slip away... I promise I'm trying to do better!

The Silly Monkey

So some of y'all know how much I LOVE being crafty! And a lot of y'all have encouraged me to try and sell my stuff. So, I've started a "business" with all of my fun stuff... check it out. sillymonkeyms.blogspot.com. Named after my sweet baby P!!!

The Fair

For those who have never been and for those who think they need to go more than once a year... here is a tour of the famous (or infamous) Neshoba County Fair... affectionately referred to as "Mississippi's Giant House Party".

I tell Justin every year how much I dread going, but the truth is... the Fair is great. It's amazing... just one big family reunion. Everyone knows everyone and if you don't, they'll get to know you and make you a part of their family! And yeah... you do end up sleeping in the bed right next to your brother-in-law who snores louder than any bear, but it's ok... it's only once a year!! I wouldn't dare deprive my baby of this experience!! He loved it!

Of course, the Fair has had it's moments... there was the year that there was no water, and we had to fill up the bathtubs once a day just to be able to flush the toilet. That was my favorite. And the Fair is held the absolute hottest week of every year (the last week in July). And things have got a lot louder at our cabin with Preston being old enough to run around this year... well, that and the fact that Justin's sister has five kids... plus her husband's nephew staying with us (that's 7 kids, all under the age of 12 for those of you doing the math). But it's still great.

To me, the Fair is...Going for long walks in the sweltering heat just to get a Lindsey's Lemonade and then walking through the air conditioned part of the Exhibit Hall. Seeing my husband so excited he can barely stand it... like a kid on Christmas. Seeing him even more excited to have his "boy" going to the Fair with him. Watching the kids playing in the sawdust like it's a sandbox. Walking through the flea market every year, telling myself that I'm going to buy something and then just get mad and say I'm just going to make it. Coming in from a day walk and standing on the sofa to get right in front of the air conditioner. Swinging on the front porch swing early in the morning, holding my sweet baby, before anyone else is up and the fairgrounds are quiet. Watching the triathletes make their way to the Grandstands after a really long trek and wonder how they do it. Going to see family that we literally see only at the Fair. But most of all, to me the Fair is family... one big, great, (and sweaty... I mean really, it's like over 100 daily) family.

It's been a while...

Sorry for the absence!! So, so, SO much has been going on in our lives the last couple of months. Now that things have "seemed" to slow down, I have time to get back to this and to y'all!! So for a quick 60 sec. update... God is good and we are so blessed! Justin lost his job and found another (better) one, we almost bought a house right around the corner from my mom (I know what you're thinking), I've launched another new drug (yes another one), our son is a cross-dresser, and I've got baby fever... BAD. Now to elaborate...

Justin's job: So most of you know that Justin is a banker... well, used to be a banker. With the economy being as fabulous as it is right now, turns out that drug companies aren't the only ones who experience corporate layoffs. The bank that Justin was working for did just that, and Justin was the lucky one to go in Tupelo... and I mean that in all sincerity. Him losing his job has been the biggest blessing from God! It got him away from some of the people that he worked with that I WAS NOT a fan of, it got him out of a dead end job (it was going to take a LONG time for him to work his way up at that particular bank), and got him into an AMAZING job! God is so good, and God is ALWAYS faithful... ALWAYS. And just to let you know how great his new job is, I'll just say this... significant (and I mean significant) raise, unlimited possibilities for career opportunities within that organization, short weeks (usually just 4 day weeks), fabulous benefits, and lots of vaca time!! And he is so happy!! He absolutely has a joy about him I've never seen when it comes to his job... he loves it. He has had to travel some, but nothing that we can't handle!! God is SOOO good!!!

About the house: We've been trying to sell our house for a while, but took it off the market when Justin became job-less. Well, the weekend of the Fair, we looked at a house around the corner from my mom. I've always loved this house on the outside and I loved it even more on the inside. It's bigger with tons of built-ins, hard wood floors, and a full four bedrooms plus three other living areas, HUGE basement and a big, shaded backyard... just perfect for two certain someones to play football! But it sold before ours could, and again, such a blessing from God. As we were preparing our house to sell (cleaning carpets, purging the junk), I started to become really hesitant about buying that house. The master bath could literally fit into our closet and speaking of closets, there were none in that house. I was already thinking about demolition and how we could make that house fit what I really wanted... which meant I shouldn't have been thinking about it in the first place. So, it sold... and not to us!! Thank you, Lord!!

The new drug: It's really great. First in class for really, really, really sick patients. This is actually one that will literally change people's lives... and not in the warm, fuzzy feeling kind of way!

The cross dresser: Well, not really. I think all children go through this and boys are no exception! It seems that Preston's new favorite thing to do is try on my shoes... and not just any shoes... my heels!!! Of course, if none of my heels are to be found, he will opt for his Daddy's loafers! It's just hillarious seeing this little boy clunk around in his momma's high heels!! I did take a picture of him in them... thought it would be perfect for a rehearsal dinner slide show one day... or any girlfriends who happen to come to our house!! ha!

Baby fever: does that really need an expaination??

I'll try and do better about updating! Football season is quickly approaching and can't get here soon enough! Preston will get to experience his first Ole Miss and Mississippi State (we don't discriminate) games this fall!! So exciting!

Some updated Preston pictures...

sweet baby boy!!! Bed head!!!

Fourth of July... love that face!!!! Watching Daddy outside...

Tell me this look isn't trouble!!! And tell me that's not the sweetest smile you've ever seen!!

Who is this child and what have you done with my baby!?!!

Well, we're finally home from vacation and completely exhausted. Vacation was great, although, I don't recommend riding for 8+ hours straight with a 14 month old unless you have a plan and then a back up plan and another back up plan. All I can say is... the sweet precious baby that we left Tupelo with on May 23 IS NOT the same child I brought home on May 30. Let me explain...

When we left Tupelo, we had a stable, consistent routine. Preston loved oatmeal for breakfast and the little microwavable bowls of pasta or mac-n-cheese for lunch/dinner with the occasional peanut butter and jelly sandwich thrown in there for a change. During our trip and upon our return, he hates oatmeal and the little microwavable bowls of pasta and mac-n-cheese. What he will eat is peanut butter and jelly sanwiches, graham crackers, ice cream, and yogurt...that's it. He hates everything else... HATES.

And his eating habits aren't the only thing that have changed. His demenor has completely changed. Can we say attitude?? Of course, I am reminded by everyone I talk to about this that Justin and I have been totally spoiled by having such a great baby (sleeping through the night at 7 wks., really laid back about everything, etc.). Well, since he's really taken off walking, that's all he wants to do. No more stroller or being held (which, by the way, if you do, he is leaned over the entire time looking at your feet walking) for this little man, he's ready to explore the world... on foot!! And if he can't, he'll let you and anyone else that's around know how unhappy he is. Perfect example: my mom and I were in the Polo outlet in Foley. It's completely packed with people and we've got Preston in his stroller. This was really the first store we had tried shopping in and Preston was furious he had to be in his stroller. He was arching his back, screaming, wanting to get out. Then, in order to soothe him, we hand him his cup-o-juice. In protest, he immediately throws the cup down and continues screaming... that's right, people, we were the ones in the store that you wonder "why don't they do something with that child". And now I know the answer... there is nothing you can do for that child except let them loose to roam without supervision... then you become the "I can't believe that parent is letting that child do that" parent. See?? It's a lose-lose situation. Needless to say the shopping ended that day with the one stop at the Polo store.

His new found independence and his disinterest in food culminated everynight at dinner when we would be in a restaurant. The last night we were in Destin, I actually had to take him outside while my mom and grandmother finished their meals. All he wants to do is walk, and if he can't do that, he doesn't want to do anything. The good thing is, he's ok with holding my hand to walk, which I'm thankful for. I did, however, end up doing something I never thought I would ever do... I bought a harness (or child-leash if you will) for my precious baby. It is completely necessary in order for Preston not to wander off and for me not to have chronic back pain (due to being hunched over holding his hand).

All of that said, he is still such a joy to me and to Justin and to our family. He loved the sand at the beach, but wasn't such a fan of the ocean water. When we took him down to the water for the first time, he walked towards the water after the wave had receded and of course wasn't expecting it to rush back up. When it did, it scared him a little and after that, he had had it with the ocean. He did, however, LOVE the pool and the kiddie pool. We had bought him this great float that had a shade over it and he loved it. Justin and I had a blast playing with him in that and also in the kiddie pool that had a shower over it. And like I said, he LOVED the sand. He didn't try to eat it, which suprised me... but he's not eating anything, so why should it? We tried to take him down to play after the sun started to set a couple of nights and he had the most fun, and we had fun watching him... and playing with him!

All in all, vacation was wonderful... I'll have to write more later on the ant-infestation of my van, the major family argument we were witness to at one of the nicest restaurants in Destin, us taking the wrong turn to Destin (which ended up adding an extra hour+ to the trip), the new traits Preston has picked up that I wouldn't change for the world, and the DVD player breaking on the way to Orange Beach and leaving a bored little boy in the back of the van on the way to OB and Destin.

One thing I learned from all of this is... vacations are different when you have a little one, but it's ok... even if the child you ended up with is not the child you thought you were taking!!